THE Daily Post Thousands of Christmas Voices concert once again set alight the spirit of the festive season before a packed audience.

And this year's concert, fronted by a galaxy of talent, was the best yet.

Organisers have estimated the concert, which has become one of North Wales' premier events, has raised #6,500 for charity, with the appeal to build a Hope House Hospice in North Wales providing a special focus.

About 1,400 people packed the International Pavilion in Llangollen to listen to the magical Christmas music provided by stars such as singers Shundefinedn Cothi and Tara Bethan, opera star Jonathan Lemalu, Flint Youth Choir and Ysgol Bodhyfryd.

Behind them a glittering backdrop provided the perfect setting for the spirit of Christmas to shine through.

Before the concert began, people armed with blankets and flasks filed into the Pavilion to watch rehearsals.

To get people firmly in the mood, the audience were invited to sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing and they took no prompting to join in as they warmed to the occasion.

Thereafter a host of acts took centre stage from brass bands, choirs, rock-pop acts to opera, bringing out the full flavour of Christmas as the audience settled down for the night.

The tickets for the concert sold out within a matter of weeks, proving the popularity of the event with its ethos to raise money for charity.

Vice chairman of Hope House, S a r a h K e a r s l e y --Wooller said it had been a f a n t a s t i c concert.

M r s K e a r s l e y --Wooller said: "The concert was a real tribute to the hard work of the Daily Post and S4C.

"Once again the Pavilion was transformed into a winter wonderland with the voices of young and old celebrating Christmas together. Each year it kick-starts my Christmas.

"We are so very grateful to the Daily Post for their continued support of Hope House Hospice and Tundefined Gobaith yng Nghymru and thanks to that support the message of our care will spread even wider across Wales."

Mrs Kearsley-Wooller also thanked everybody who had supported Hope House. Daily Post Editor Alastair Machray said it never ceased to amaze him how the popularity of the concert had grown over the years.

He said: "It just seems to get bigger and bigger every year. The concert is now very much a visual event as well as an audio event.

"People were already coming into the Pavilion hours before it started and it just goes to show how much it has become a part of the North Wales calendar of events.

"We had no idea when we started this years ago just how popular it would be today. It is about Christmas and Christmas carols and the spirit of giving.

"It may not be warm in the Pavilion but there was warmth in abundance among the people at the concert. The number of people that watch it on S4C is enormous."

Concert presenter Robin Jones, of S4C, said with the tragic events of September 11, this year's concert was particularly poignant.

A veteran of the concert, Robin said: "Since the concert last year, the world has been turned upside down with the events of September 11. People feel a need for this type of evening and there seems to be a need for a metaphorical pilgrimage to the stable of Bethlehem.

"It was amazing to see people coming into the concert hours before it started and the concert sold out months ago showing how popular it is."

Co-presenter, Angharad Llwyd, from Denbigh, said there was a special feeling about the evening.

She said: "Everybody was wrapped up warm, because of the cold, but there is still a strong festive feel to the concert.

She said a special needs school was taking part, which really gave the concert a special feeling.

She added: "I recently visited Hope House Hopsice in Oswestry, and I know that it is an extremely important charity.

"One of the choirs was singing The World in Union. It is a wish, but I think a wish that everybody would love to see this year."

This year is particularly special. THope House wants to build a new hospice in North Wales, Tundefined Gobaith yng Nghymru. The project will cost #2m.

The hospice, which looks after many terminally ill children, wants to establish a satellite unit.

Currently, about one third of the children in Hope House Hospice are from North Wales.

Julie McAdam, events and exhibitions manager for the Daily Post said she was overwhelmed by the speed with which tickets had sold.

Last night, she said: "We don't know what the exact figure is yet, but we believe we have raised about #6,500, which will be our best year yet.

"The tickets sold extremely fast and we believe the Hope House Hospice Appeal with a very North Wales focus had a lot to do with that.

"This year we had a very strong line-up from traditional music to more up-beat tracks which has catered for all tastes."

L S4C broadcast the highlights in a special programme Carolau o Llangollen on December 19 at 8pm. __________________________________________________________________________________________________